He has amassed millions of fans from eloquently vocalising nature in its rawest form.

So it was only natural for broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough to use his knowledge of mating birds, to appeal to Interstellar actress Jessica Chastain when they both appeared on The Graham Norton Show.

The TV star flirtatiously explained to Jessica how birds mate, in the context of his new show Attenborough’s Paradise Birds.

Sir David Attenborough was happy to share his birds of paradise knowledge on the Graham Norton Show

The octogenarian turned to red headed beauty Jessica and said: ‘I’m there to explain what the male birds do to ingratiate themselves to the female birds.

‘They hang upside down and whistle and they have long quills coming out of their tail which they flick across the face of the female.’

Gary Lineker took up the chance to troll Manchester United for starting their match against Stoke – and indeed 2015 – in disastrous fashion after the Red Devils went behind at the Britannia Stadium thanks to Ryan Shawcross’ early goal.

Louis van Gaal’s side went 1-0 down in only the second minute of the game on New Year’s Day after Peter Crouch headed a corner towards the goal before Shawcross drove the ball into the back of the net to the delight of the home crowd.

With United – who currently sit in third position in the league – conceding so early on against their 10th-placed opposition, Lineker reacted by taking to Twitter to lightheartedly mock the visitors’ start to the new year.

Gary Lineker officially cemented himself in wedding folklore after delivering what must be one of the best best-man videos of all time.

The Match of the Day presenter was doing the deed for good mate Richard King earlier this month, but rather than trot out the embarrassing baby pics, the suave 54-year-old enlisted the help of some of the biggest names in sport to deliver some comical put-downs to his old pal.

Thierry Henry, Pele, Diego Maradona, Jose Mourinho and more all feature, so watch for yourself and then think again about how ‘awesome’ your one was!

]]>http://metro.co.uk/2014/10/19/gary-lineker-made-to-take-picture-of-piers-morgan-after-us-fan-fails-to-recognise-england-legend-4912114/feed/0linekermassimomarioniukmetroColin Murray: Mario Balotelli can be fool’s gold for Liverpoolhttp://metro.co.uk/2014/08/21/colin-murray-mario-balotelli-can-be-fools-gold-for-liverpool-4841872/
http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/21/colin-murray-mario-balotelli-can-be-fools-gold-for-liverpool-4841872/#commentsThu, 21 Aug 2014 20:49:23 +0000http://metro.co.uk/?p=4841872]]>There’s a particular Northern Irish phrase that Brendan Rodgers may need to call upon this season. It means nitwit, used affectionately on most occasions, and there is no doubt that, in Mario Balotelli, Liverpool are signing a Buck Eejit.

For £16million they are getting a player who can be sensational one match and anonymous the next. Unplayable one day, unbearable another. He can do things with a football most can’t fathom but things with a bib most simply wouldn’t.

For those who do not support his new club, having Balotelli back in the Premier League will, by and large, be seen as a good thing.

Mario Balotteli has been a loose cannon throughout his career (Picture: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

He’ll be good value, and stories of dressing as Santa and tackling school bullies will surface on a semi-regular basis. On the pitch, his unpredictability is compelling.

From a Liverpool fan’s perspective, I feel like I’m about to go on a date with Lindsay Lohan. I’m excited – aroused even – but I’m acutely aware of the dangers involved.

Liverpool need to fill the Suarez goal void if they are to push on, and they’ve reached a little further down their hit-list than they anticipated. He’ll bag goals but can Rodgers tame him? I doubt it. That’s why he’s available for £16m. I don’t think it’s a matter of maturity but more that of personality which, once shaped, is very difficult to transform.

Does Brendan Rodgers know what he is letting himself in for (Picture: AP Photo)

He’ll always be prone to moments of madness, on and off the pitch.

Some of the stories peddled are fiction, but enough of them would stand up in a court of law, from impromptu prison visits to awry fireworks, to throwing darts at youth-team players.
I like to believe that him asking his local Chinese to remove the bones from his spare ribs before delivering them is definitely true.

While it’s a risk for the Reds, I don’t believe Rodgers sees him as the final piece of his transfer jigsaw, or even the most important one. I wouldn’t be surprised to see another high-profile name swell his ranks before September 1, but in this case he has simply weighed up the pros and cons and decided it’s worth a punt.

Mario Balotelli could add to some bite to Liverpool (Picture:Antonio Calanni/AP)

It could turn out to be the best or most foolish move of Rodgers’ Liverpool reign so far.

On the plus side, I don’t think Mario has ever sunk his teeth into anyone. Liverpool fans, though, will be hoping this signing doesn’t come back to bite the club on the backside.

Barry Davies is back on Match Of The Day! You have to say, that’s magnificent.

Bazza, back for the 50th birthday, doesn’t thrust stats or splatter his own self-important opinion over your living room, and for us who grew up with him, we’ll remember a ‘Caniggiiiaaaa!!’ or a ‘Lineker!’ as much as a ‘just look at his face’.

And his famous ‘Where were the Germans? But frankly, who cares?’ at the Seoul Olympics. And I can also confirm he was once the last man standing in a bar that included three ex- footballers, two Olympians, a scruffy radio presenter and an orchestra. Legend.

Coventry manager Stephen Pressley is finally going to be in charge again at the Ricoh (Picture: Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)

It’s a sad state of affairs we’re celebrating a team called Coventry City returning to play in Coventry.

It should never have been allowed to happen but, still, the club’s return to the Ricoh is wonderful news. More than 10,000 fans never went to Northampton, campaigning for their right to play in their own city. Now, they can return, take their sons and daughters to the match, and once again feel like a real club.

Fan power has eventually won but shame on those who brought this situation about in the first place.

Gone: Robins didn’t have any answers after Saturday’s humbling at the hands of Bournemouth (Picture: Getty Images)

The footballing community don’t just seem surprised at the decision but at the timing of the departure of Mark Robins from Huddersfield Town after one game of the season.

For those that have watched Town since the start of 2014 it was glaringly obvious.

I can only presume that comments made by Gary Lineker and the national media are because they haven’t seen us play any games for the last eight months.

Further clarification must be made that Robins wasn’t sacked and the decision to part wasn’t pre-meditated.

If the club had any inclination to sack Robins they would’ve done so at the end of last season or at the very least his permanent replacement would’ve being unveiled by now.

It’s evident to see that the board were giving Robins time to turn around the team’s fortunes after last season’s debacle.

While the blame for such a dismal run normally lies at the manager’s feet, Robins kept his position in the summer and his backroom staff were displaced.

If questions are raised it’s surely wiser to raise them about how long football managers are given to make an impact within their role.

Robins was first team manager at Town for a relatively long period of time – he was in charge for 18 months before Saturday’s defeat.

That made him the sixth longest serving manager out of all of the current Championship clubs behind the likes of Mick McCarthy, Eddie Howe and Dougie Freedman.

Fourteen of the 24 managers in the division have been in their current post for less than 12 months – a fact that makes Robins tenure at the Terriers look like an eternity.

I would love it if my club could retain a manager for longer than 18 months, to work with the club’s blueprint and nurture young players through the ranks but unfortunately the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are anomalies in 21st century football.

A club’s financial model between Championship and League One is disparaging, and where money is involved improvements need to be continuous to keep up with the pack.

2014’s on-field performances have being worse than when Robins started in the role so it was only correct for him to exit the club when he did.

]]>http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/15/why-were-so-many-people-outside-of-huddersfield-surprised-at-mark-robins-departure-4829948/feed/0Huddersfield Town v Newcastle United - Pre Season Friendlyjacquesvandertweecentswaard5 reasons Match Of The Day’s new pundit line-up has failed to hit the back of the nethttp://metro.co.uk/2014/08/11/5-reasons-match-of-the-days-new-pundit-line-up-has-failed-to-hit-the-back-of-the-net-4826052/
http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/11/5-reasons-match-of-the-days-new-pundit-line-up-has-failed-to-hit-the-back-of-the-net-4826052/#commentsMon, 11 Aug 2014 15:02:49 +0000http://metro.co.uk/?p=4826052]]>The 2014 World Cup may have lived up to expectations in terms of the actual football on offer, (well, the group stages anyway), but the BBC’s coverage ranged from the stuffy (the pilot-style suits worn for the final) to the downright embarrassing (Jonathan Pearce’s inability to grasp the basics of goal-line technology).

Sadly, judging by the announcement of the Match Of The Day team for the forthcoming season, the Beeb don’t appear to have learned their lesson.

Here are five reasons why their new punditry line-up has failed to hit the back of the net.

1. Phil Neville

Phil Neville (Picture:Neil Hall/Reuters)

The brother of Sky Sports’ award-winning pundit Gary, Phil Neville and his monotonous showing during England’s World Cup opener proved that broadcasting talent doesn’t necessarily always run in the family.

In Neville’s defence, it was a ridiculous decision by the BBC to give him his co-commentary debut on such a high-profile game. But although he seemed far more comfortable, and thankfully a little more excitable, when later placed next to Gary Lineker in the studio, his appointment as Alan Hansen’s successor still seems extremely premature.

2. Robbie Savage

Robbie Savage(Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

It’s hard to shake the feeling that the former Welsh international has some incriminating evidence on BBC Sport bosses. What else could explain his continued employment following his disastrous display this summer.

Savage’s less than polished style might be intended to represent the average man on the street. But even those who have to Google the offside rule could probably provide more insight than Savage’s inane high-pitched ramblings (surely only dogs could have heard him during the latter stages of the USA-Ghana match?)

3. Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand (Picture: LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

Keeping Danny Murphy – the most astute and articulate addition to the BBC team this summer – is a great move. Sadly, most of the less charismatic newcomers have also retained their place too.

Following his disastrous World Cup Wind-Ups show back in 2006, Rio Ferdinand shouldn’t have been let within a mile of a TV studio and yet it’s confirmed that he’ll now juggle his QPR commitments with spouting banal platitudes in the studio this season.

4. Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Summing up everything that’s wrong with the show’s Old Boys’ Club vibe, Alan Shearer, a man paid to analyse football who proudly boasted before the Algeria/Slovenia World Cup game in 2010 that he knew nothing about the teams, is once again returning for the ninth consecutive season.

5. Lack of innovation

Still no women included in the MOTD line-up (Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the season ahead was the ideal moment to show that MOTD isn’t stuck in the past.

Not only have they missed the chance to open up the floor to women, but isn’t it about time that at least one sports journalist (i.e. someone who actually talks about football for a living) gets the chance to prove that analysis should consist of more than stating the obvious.

]]>http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/11/5-reasons-match-of-the-days-new-pundit-line-up-has-failed-to-hit-the-back-of-the-net-4826052/feed/0staticsilentstaticsilentstaticsilentstaticsilentSoccer player Phil Neville attends the world premiere of the film "The Class of 92" in LondonstaticsilentAngry Gary Lineker blasts Roy Hodgson and Steven Gerrard over England’s World Cup failurehttp://metro.co.uk/2014/06/22/angry-gary-lineker-blasts-roy-hodgson-and-steven-gerrard-over-englands-world-cup-failure-4771746/
http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/22/angry-gary-lineker-blasts-roy-hodgson-and-steven-gerrard-over-englands-world-cup-failure-4771746/#commentsSun, 22 Jun 2014 19:27:48 +0000http://metro.co.uk/?p=4771746]]>

Former England striker turned BBC Match of the Day anchor man Gary Lineker has hit out at Roy Hodgson’s tactics and branded the home nation’s group stage exit in Brazil a ‘humiliation’.

The former Tottenham and Barcelona striker believes that Hodgson’s decision to play 4-2-3-1 instead of 4-3-3 was wrong due to the side’s lack of experience.

Lineker also blasted Steven Gerrard by explaining that his inability to organise and lead the side correctly also contributed to England’s first group stage exit since 1958.

Although he was heavily critical of Hodgson’s tactics, he was pleased that he blooded a number of youngsters in tournament conditions.

The thing I find strange is that anyone is surprised England have gone out. Lineker only needed to ask any Liverpool supporter prior to the World Cup regarding England’s chances with Hodgson in charge after his disastrous short spell in charge at Anfield.

Reds supporters couldn’t get rid of him quick enough and it isn’t really a surprise to see England go out so soon.

However, Lineker’s comments are out of order regarding Gerrard because he has been an inspirational and organisational leader at Liverpool for a number of years – and to say that he hasn’t the organisational skills to lead England is rubbish.

England had good players in their squad and Hodgson selected probably the best players he had available but he just didn’t give the players the freedom to express themselves in the final third.

With the likes of Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Danny Welbeck in attack, they should have been causing all sorts of problems, but Hodgson restricted them to stay in their positions, whereas they should have been allowed the freedom to rotate positions similar to the way Liverpool play.

]]>http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/20/impartial-bbc-gary-lineker-presents-crucial-costa-rica-tie-in-an-italy-shirt-as-englands-hopes-hang-in-the-balance-4770077/feed/0Hannah DuncanlinekerhannahduncanukmetroGary Lineker left it in no doubt who he's supporting (Picture: BBC)Italy will give England a chance of progression if they beat Costa Rica (Picture: BBC)Cheer on Luis Suarez and Uruguay? Scots would rather see England win!http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/19/cheer-on-luis-suarez-and-uruguay-scots-would-rather-see-england-win-4767331/
http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/19/cheer-on-luis-suarez-and-uruguay-scots-would-rather-see-england-win-4767331/#commentsThu, 19 Jun 2014 12:35:09 +0000http://metro.co.uk/?p=4767331]]>

Luis Suarez is one of the reasons why some Scots will be cheering on England (Picture: AP)

They were once described as ‘scum of the earth’ by the then chief executive of the SFA, Ernie Walker, and their biggest star is a loathsome individual.

So how come so many Scots will be cheering on the Uruguayans on Thursday evening?

Easy, they are playing England.

You can be sure that should Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions fall at the sword to the South Americans that publicans will be rushed off their feet all along Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, Princes Street in Edinburgh, Union Street in Aberdeen, etc as thousands of proud members of the ABE (Anyone But England) cult party well into the night.

Suggestions that in recent years more and more Scots have developed a laissez-faire towards our friends from the South should not be dismissed as wishful thinking though, many within the football fraternity North of the border no longer see England as the Devils Eleven. Indeed, it is not unusual to see many a young Scot proudly wearing the Three Lions on their chest.

With interest in the English game so strong with more and more of the younger generation developing a taste of supporting what are considered more glamorous outfits than the teams on their very own doorsteps, it is perhaps only natural that disdain for the England national team is no longer considered appealing.

It would be fair to believe the decision to end the annual clash between Scotland and the Auld Enemy can be pointed as being the beginning of the end to the bitterness and envy which encapsulated the minds of so many in the Tartan Army.

In days gone by it was all too easy for Scots to identify the English as a team we loved to hate, although it would also be accurate to suggest a prime reason for this being the case was the ridiculous jingoistic and biased coverage taken up by the English media.

Panto villains on the park such as Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Tony Adams and John Terry along with annoying pundits such as Jimmy Hill, John Motson and Emlyn Hughes did nothing but make the blood boil of many of us, but I sense in recent times attitudes toward our English cousins have softened up somewhat.

Okay there are still enough reasons for us to throw the remote at the telly, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Clive Tyldesley and, of course, the man we all love to hate – the uber-annoying Adrian Chiles. However, thankfully the resentment, and unfortunately it must be said-hatred, for all things England no longer holds the same appeal in Scotland.

Throw in Uruguay and their repugnant character Luis Suarez and it’s easy to understand why so many Scots will have no qualms over wishing the best for the Three Lions.

But then again as soon as we catch our first glimpse of Mr Chiles, and hear the first utterances of Tyldesley and the opening bars of Rule Britannia, it may be nigh on impossible for many of us to slip back into the stereotypical Scottish football supporter mode and cheer on the South Americans with relish.

The faces of Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne, David Beckham, Alan Shearer and current England star Wayne Rooney have been skilfully carved into bite-sized artwork in the run-up to the World Cup.

Micro-artist, Quentin Devine, has carved portraits of England footie heroes out of Brazil Nuts to launch a new Dave new series ahead of this summer’s tournament in Brazil.

Each Brazil nut, measuring an average of 1.5 by 2 centimetres, took on average a painstaking 96 hours to carve with Quentin working day and night to perfect Rooney’s hairline, the raw emotion of Gazza and Beckham’s dashing good looks.

The artist worked his way through 53 nuts before finally cracking the finished portraits and spent the most time finessing Gary Lineker’s oversized ears.

England’s Top 19 Footy Heroes, England’s Top 53 Footy Goals and England’s Top 39 Footy Gaffes is coming to Dave from Tuesday 20th May at 9pm.

The dreaded Twitter bet has struck again – but this time TV personality Gary Lineker will be the man under the spotlight after promising to get his ears pinned back if Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich 1-0.

Can new Norwich bosss Neil Adams mastermind an upset and put Liverpool’s title celebrations on hold (Picture: Getty Images)

As if it were needed, Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers – in the euphoric aftermath of Liverpool’s win over Manchester City – cranked up the tension ahead of Norwich’s clash with the ‘champions elect’ this Sunday lunchtime.

‘We go to Norwich. Exactly the same. We go together. Come on!’ were the stirring words of the Liverpool skipper as he gave his impromptu Churchillian post-match rallying cry – once he’d successfully fought back the tears.

Both threw a ‘and now it’s on to Norwich’ into their post-match interviews, giving the entire nation (minus those in north and west London and Manchester) another reason to wish ill on the Canaries or, as we’ve become known of late, ‘who the hell do they think they are… City’

In the same way Newcastle became everyone’s second favourite team in the Kevin Keegan years, it now seems the red half of Merseyside have that taken on that mantle. It must be a Rodgers thing: first Swanseaola now Liverpool…

Alas for us in deepest Norfolk we appear to be at the opposite end of the nation’s affections right now; the board’s decision to part company with Chris Hughton having been roundly condemned by just about everyone outside the Canary nation.

Pundits, experts, national journalists and Paul Parker have been lining up to take potshots at City’s chief executive David McNally with Gary Lineker taking the unofficial role as their spokesperson. Not content with describing our club as ‘deluded’ he followed it up with a stinging: ‘Where does football find these folk? Recipe for disaster, Delia’.

Credit is naturally due for the wonderfully original Delia/food reference, but just a smidgen of research would have told Gazza that we ‘found’ said Mr McNally just less than five years ago when we were a penniless League One outfit who were on the brink of bankruptcy. That we’re now a Premier League club (for the time being at least) who is debt-free suggests to me the chief executive has done a rather good job.

Or perhaps I’m missing the point. Perhaps we shouldn’t aspire to either. Perhaps little Norwich should just bumble along in the Championship, press its nose against the window of the Premier League and gasp in awe at its riches and expensively acquired talent. And dream.

How dare we aspire to better ourselves.

Norwich will be doing their best to wipe the smiles off the Liverpool faces (Picture: AP Photo)

And while on the subject, how dare we dream of spoiling Liverpool’s stroll to their first ever Premier League title.

For what it’s worth, in my opinion, Liverpool would be worthy (and fitting) champions, but if anyone expects little Norwich to roll over in deference to the ‘unstoppable’ red juggernaut they could be in for a surprise.

It was a few years ago, but we have successfully played the role of Liverpool party-poopers before when Kevin Drinkell inflicted a fatal blow to the Reds 1987 league title challenge.

It may be a big ask, but with our Premier League status on the line I’m prepared to believe we can do it again… even if that means upsetting Messrs Gerrard, Rogers, Lineker, Parker et al.

Wenger looked in some distress after the slip – which came hours after his team were thrashed 5-1 at Liverpool – and some viewers questioned the decision to poke fun at the prospect of a man in his 60s (Wenger will be 65 this year) prostrate on the floor.

Even so, MOTD chose to show the pictures on Saturday night, with a smiling Gary Lineker suggesting the incident capped an afternoon to forget for the Arsenal manager.

MOTD would have had to pay to broadcast the Wenger fall pictures.
Think about that for a minute.
Scumbags.

]]>http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/09/arsenal-fans-irate-after-match-of-the-day-poke-fun-at-arsene-wenger-fall-4296590/feed/0Arsenal's manager Wenger reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Liverpool at Anfield Stadium in LiverpoolgavinbrownukmetroGary Lineker: England don’t have enough quality to win World Cup in Brazilhttp://metro.co.uk/2014/01/13/gary-lineker-england-dont-have-enough-quality-to-win-world-cup-in-brazil-4257780/
http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/13/gary-lineker-england-dont-have-enough-quality-to-win-world-cup-in-brazil-4257780/#commentsMon, 13 Jan 2014 06:00:18 +0000http://metro.co.uk/?p=4257780]]>

Gary Lineker – it’s safe to say he won’t be betting his house on England winning the World Cup (Picture: Tim Whitby/Getty)

Gary Lineker OBE, 53, is one of England’s most famous ever footballers. He will report on the World Cup from Brazil and is the face of Walkers Crisps.

So, we’re trying to find a new flavour for crisps… Yeah, Do Us A Flavour, as they call it. We did it a few years ago and we’re bringing it back on a bigger scale in the sense that the person who puts together the winning flavour on this occasion will win a million pounds.

A million pounds? Why don’t you enter yourself? I’m not allowed to enter myself because I would win it, wouldn’t I? I came up with a beef and horseradish-type thing.

What won last time round? Is it still available? I think it was Builder’s Breakfast but it had a strange, eggy kind of taste to it. It didn’t stand the test of time.

Are you a big crisp eater? I suppose you have to say yes. Oh, I partake on a fairly regular basis as part of my wonderfully balanced diet. I can’t say no to a packet of salt and vinegar. If someone came up with anything as good as that…

With the World Cup coming up, were you as distraught as every other England fan at the draw for the group? I personally thought there was a slight overreaction.

So do they stand a chance? I think England are in a transitional phase. We’ve got the so-called golden generation in the twilight of their careers – the Gerrards, the Lampards, the Coles – and behind that a really good set of young players coming through. But in the middle, in terms of world-class players in their prime, you’d probably only say Rooney at present and to really be competitive in the World Cup, you’d need more than that.

I think in a few years we’ll re-emerge. Not that we’ve emerged before so re-emerge is probably not the right word. I think we’ll improve, shall we say?

It seems like you’re the only footballer who ever had any personality, going on post-match interviews. That’s so not true! You’ve got to remember that when they interview footballers at the end of games, a) they’re completely shot, and b) they have to be extraordinarily careful as to what they say. Footballers are a cross-section of working-class society and within that there’ll be all sorts of different personalities: some intelligent, some less so; some witty, some not. The post-match interview is not the time to judge them.

What’s the difference between this generation of footballers and yours? Footballers are footballers: they live for the game and work really hard, so I don’t see a dramatic change. They have to be very careful nowadays about what they do because there’s a bigger focus on their personal lives. When I played, players would go and have a lot of pints after training and I doubt any of them do that now. The diet is more important. They’re probably a lot more professional because you have to be.

You were very supportive tweeting about Tom Daley when he came out, weren’t you? Yeah. He’s a sportsman and it doesn’t happen very often that they make their feelings known. I just think that it can’t have been an easy thing to do in sport. If it happened in football now, I think it’d be a good thing and I think everyone would be much more supportive than people perhaps think. I think there would be enough people on the ground that would frown upon any sort of negativity and be more supportive, a little bit like what we’ve seen with the reaction to racism in football over the years.

Is all the back and forth between Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane for real? And are you Team Ferguson or Team Keane? I just find it quite amusing. I think the back and forth is probably for real. They aren’t the sort of characters that mess about.

Did you ever watch Footballers’ Wives? Is it like that? Were you always fighting off girls out to bag a footballer? Yeah, I watched it. I used to think it was ridiculous but actually it was funny. I think there was some sort of poll recently where they asked girls in school what they wanted to be when they grew up and one of the most popular answers was to be a Wag, which is quite worrying.

If a daughter of yours said she wanted to be a Wag, how would you feel? I very much doubt she would but they’re their own people, aren’t they? But it’s one thing saying something like that when you’re 13 and another when you’re in your twenties.

Gary Lineker is launching Walkers’ new Do Us A Flavour campaign. To be in with a chance of winning £1million, enter your flavour suggestion at www.walkers.co.uk

]]>http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/13/gary-lineker-england-dont-have-enough-quality-to-win-world-cup-in-brazil-4257780/feed/0Gary Lineker - it's safe to say he won't be betting his house on England winning the World Cup (Picture: Tim Whitby/Getty)pauldietrich2013Gary Lineker - it's safe to say he won't be betting his house on England winning the World Cup (Picture: Tim Whitby/Getty)Give Glenn Hoddle the Tottenham job, urges Gary Lineker on Twitterhttp://metro.co.uk/2013/12/16/give-glenn-hoddle-the-tottenham-job-urges-gary-lineker-on-twitter-4232636/
http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/16/give-glenn-hoddle-the-tottenham-job-urges-gary-lineker-on-twitter-4232636/#commentsMon, 16 Dec 2013 15:01:17 +0000http://metro.co.uk/?p=4232636]]>

Hoddle is Lineker’s choice for Tottenham’s next manager (Picture: Getty)

Match of the Day anchorman Lineker believes the former England coach has the innovative ideas needed to turn round fortunes at White Hart Lane following the decision to part company with Andre Villas-Boas.

Hoddle was in charge at Spurs between 2001 and 2003 but it was not the glorious homecoming he had hoped for.

However, he is still adored at the club he supported as a boy before making 377 appearances for them and Lineker thinks Tottenham chairman Levy would be making a wise move in taking him back.

Lineker, a former England team-mate of Hoddle who starred for Leicester, Everton and Barcelona, as well as Tottenham, tweeted: ‘AVB has been sacked by Spurs. Would love to see Glenn Hoddle given another chance at this level. Has a brilliant football mind.’

Hoddle is the third favourite for the job with bookmakers at 10/1 with Ladbrokes, Coral and Betfred.

But Fabio Capello, another former England coach, is the odds-on fancy to succeed AVB at 8/11 with Ladbrokes.

]]>http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/16/give-glenn-hoddle-the-tottenham-job-urges-gary-lineker-on-twitter-4232636/feed/0danielgriffithsukGaffe: Glenn Hoddle has said sorry for remarks he made during the Chelsea game (Picture: Michael Jones/Digital South)danielgriffithsukGary Lineker offers Twitter followers reward for help finding thief that took mother’s carhttp://metro.co.uk/2013/11/30/gary-lineker-offers-twitter-followers-reward-for-help-finding-thief-that-took-mothers-car-4208404/
http://metro.co.uk/2013/11/30/gary-lineker-offers-twitter-followers-reward-for-help-finding-thief-that-took-mothers-car-4208404/#commentsSat, 30 Nov 2013 17:31:07 +0000http://metro.co.uk/?p=4208404]]>

Gary Lineker has made a Twitter appeal following the theft of his mother’s car (Picture: PA)

Gary Lineker has offered a reward to his near two million Twitter followers if they help catch the person that stole his sick mother’s car from outside a hospital in Leicester.

The Match of the Day presenter is normally known for making jokes on the social network and sparring with TV personality Piers Morgan, but this time he used the online medium to appeal for help finding the thief that took Margaret Lineker’s vehicle.

‘Some rotter has stolen my mum’s car after dialysis in Leicester,’ he tweeted.

Some rotter has stolen my mum's car after dialysis in Leicester. Silver/grey Corsa EX09TXE. I'll reward any help with return. RT please.

Gary Lineker has got one up on his old foe Joey Barton after being identified as the most influential Twitter user in British football.

In a chart of the UK’s top Twitterati, topped by One Direction member Liam Payne, Match of the Day presenter Lineker was the highest-ranked football personality, coming in at No.16, with his nearest football rival, Barton, at 19th.

New Football Association commission member and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was the sport’s next most influential tweeter, ranking 23rd.

Compiled by social media analytics company PeerIndex, the list ranks users by influence rather than just followers.

In fact, with almost five million followers, Ferdinand comfortably beats Lineker and Barton on that count.

Commenting on his company’s findings, Peerindex founder Azeem Azhar said: ‘As Twitter has become more mainstream, the top 140 starts to resemble the contours of popular culture and power, the footballers, politicians and boy bands.

‘However, social media’s democratising effects still allow those with challenging, well-defined or interesting views to build influence.’

Gary Lineker believes pushy parents are to blame for the shortcomings of the England football team, and has called for a ‘parental cultural revolution’ to improve the situation.

In a sweary article in the New Statesman, which was edited by Russell Brand this week, the Match of the Day presenter details the reasons he thinks the long-ball culture prevails in this country and why England ‘never produced, proportionally, as many technically efficient players as most other countries’.

A whole host of idiosyncrasies about youth football, including disproportionately sized pitches and goalposts, are ridiculed by the former England striker but chief among his complaints is the overzealous dad on the sideline.

Lineker, capped 80 times for the Three Lions, wrote: ‘This madness is only exacerbated by the maniacal parents on the touchline spouting nonsense at their children.

‘The competitive nature of most mums and dads is astounding. The fear they instil in our promising but sensitive Johnny is utterly depressing. We need a parental cultural revolution.

‘If we could just get them to shut the f*** up and let their children enjoy themselves, you would be staggered at the difference it would make.’

Response to Lineker’s article on Twitter has been largely positive, prompting the 52-year-old to tweet: ‘Blown away by the comments. Chuffed you like it. Now let’s try and change the awful culture.’

]]>http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/24/new-statesman-sweary-gary-lineker-blames-pushy-parents-for-englands-shortcomings-4159941/feed/0Soccer - Gary Lineker File PhotojamesboylanukmetroLineker, left, won 80 caps for his country in the 1980s (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)Gary Lineker and BBC team to present World Cup coverage from Riohttp://metro.co.uk/2013/10/17/gary-lineker-and-bbc-team-to-present-world-cup-coverage-from-rio-4150994/
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Gary Lineker will present coverage of next year’s World Cup finals from Rio (Picture: AP)

The BBC have announced their studio team, including main presenter Gary Lineker, will be based in Rio at next year’s World Cup finals.

The corporation has reached agreement with Fifa to use one of their special international studios in the iconic Brazilian city.

The trend of the BBC being on location at football’s biggest event began at France 98, with Des Lynam and his team memorably presenting the coverage from Paris.

For the majority of the 2002 tournament in Japan and Korea, the BBC presented from London, with Lineker and his panelists flying out for the quarter-final between Brazil and England, and staying for the rest of the tournament.

The beautiful city of Rio will be at the centre of the world’s attention next summer (Picture: AFP/Getty)

In 2006, the BBC were based in Berlin, with a view of the Brandenburg Gate. And in 2010, Cape Town and its alluring Table Mountain provided the backdrop for the BBC’s coverage of the tournament in South Africa. That move probably received the most criticism, with only eight games of the 64 played in the city.

This time, the decision is more understandable, with Rio sure to provide a visual feast for the viewer. And a host of games, including the final, will be played at the city’s legendary Maracana.

The director of BBC Sport, Barbara Slater, said: ‘We have learned over the years that audiences value being immersed in the atmosphere and surround-sound of a World Cup, which can only be delivered through teams on location.’

England’s record goalscorer Gary Lineker believes manager Roy Hodgson is right to play down his side’s chances of winning the World Cup.

England reached next year’s finals in Brazil with a 2-0 win over Poland on Tuesday, and while the usual suspects will hype up their chances, Lineker says Hodgson is taking a more sensible approach.

The England boss admitted his men are far from favourites, while suggesting winning the tournament was not impossible.

Lineker wrote on Twitter: ‘Roy Hodgson talking sense in his press conference. Quelling exuberant expectations, without dashing all hope. The voice of reason.’

Roy Hodgson was cautious this week (Picture: Getty)

Former England winger John Barnes also sounded a note of caution, saying he doesn’t believe England have enough top-quality players to truly concern the best sides.

Barnes said: ‘Wayne [Rooney] is our own only truly world-class player. Andros Townsend played well but we’re not going to win the World Cup by just getting down the wings and putting crosses in.

‘We have to develop different types of players rather than just wingers who can get down the line or attacking midfield players.’

Prime Minister David Cameron told MPS: ‘I’m sure the whole House will wish to join me in congratulating the England team for their excellent win. I’m sure now that everyone in the United Kingdom will swing behind the English team.’

Pausing while MPs cheered and laughed, Mr Cameron then added: ‘You can always dream and hope.’

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